330 AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION 



variety. Over-dark specimens would be sought more eagerly 

 and prized more highly than over-light or white specimens, both 

 for breeding virtues and exhibition merits ; however, there is 

 grave danger in using birds that are too dark. 



The Undercolor. The Standard describes undercolor of both 

 sexes in like phrases, "bluish-slate in all sections except breast 

 which may be bluish-white except at juncture" with body ; 

 there bluish-slate is required, thus calling for lighter color 

 than if it used the simple term "slate," which would allow 

 an extremely large range of undercolor from medium slate 

 that might be almost white to very dark slate that approaches 

 black. Too dark undercolor as well as too light is dangerous 

 in the breeding pen, as white-surfaced sections would, in many 

 cases, show black or dark color on the surface of the back of 

 the female and in the sides of breast of the male or in the body 

 feathers of one or both sexes. In the breast of both sexes, a 

 lighter shade of undercolor is required, but at the junction with 

 body the Standard again demands a bluish-slate. A very clear 

 idea of the undercolor of the lower or under sections of the body 

 is presented by the series of feathers in Plates 113 and 114. 



The undesirable black that occasionally will crop out in sides 

 of breast, near shoulder or wing, wing-fronts and coverts, and 

 fluff is illustrated in Plate 115. 



CHAPTER III. 



MATING COLUMBIAN PLYMOUTH ROCKS 



For the following we are largely indebted to F. M. Clemans, 

 to whom reference has been made heretofore, as one of the 

 pioneers in the development of this variety : 



"The color markings of the Columbian Rock are practically 

 the same as those of the Light Brahma. When we consider how 

 long the breeding of Light Brahmas has been reduced to a 

 science it would be folly to ignore the valuable lessons we can 

 learn from a study of results heretofore obtained by Light 

 Brahma breeders. 



"Those who have had most to do with the advancement of 

 the Columbian Rock have not failed to take advantage of this 

 record of achievement in Brahma breeding and our breed has 

 greatly profited thereby. The beginner can profit largely by 

 following the course of the successful Light Brahma man and 



